Here's the extract ...
(Pages 87 to 90)
Jacob
got off the bus and headed for the bank. It felt good being out by himself, in
control, and away from the rectory and his parents. They were doing his head in
and it had to stop.
Freedom rules, he thought, for now he’d done it once – reclaimed his
independence – it would be easy to keep going. He had plans. A car was next. A
decent one. He’d had an old banger that had finally given up on him just before
he’d become ill. Originally he’d been going to save up for another car but that
wasn’t going to happen with no salary coming in, and he couldn’t wait for ever.
He’d been researching new cars online and had found there were some really good
deals. Decent cars, fast ones that would give him power and status, that didn’t
need much of a deposit. Once he’d met up with Chez and got his stuff, his plan
was to go to the showrooms in town. He’d already spoken on the phone to a guy
called Gary there who’d said that if his credit was OK, he could drive a car
away. He felt his heart step up a beat at the thought. A new, flashy fast car
was just what he needed.
‘Shit!’
Jacob said aloud, arriving outside the bank. A sign over the cash machine read:
Out of order. We apologize for any inconvenience. ‘Shit,’ he
said again. How long was the queue at the counter? He couldn’t risk being late
for Chez.
Inside the bank he was relieved to see that there wasn’t a queue, and
one of the cashiers was already free. He went up to the counter and the
cashier, blonde and attractive, smiled at him, greeting him with a bright,
‘Good afternoon. How can I help you?’, like she was genuinely pleased to see
him.
‘Good
afternoon. My day just got a lot better. Unfortunately, I just want your money
for today.’ He held her gaze and saw her blush. He liked that, shy, not confident
and overpowering. Eloise had become far too assertive lately and often reminded
him of his mother.
She passed
him the PINsentry reader and he inserted his card and entered his PIN. He
slowly slid the card reader back across the counter and didn’t immediately
remove his hand, so that as she took it her fingers brushed his. He saw her
flush again.
‘How would
you like your money?’ she asked.
‘However
you’d like to give it to me,’ he said suggestively, holding her gaze.
The cashier
sitting next to her heard and in a loud whisper, intended for him to hear, said
jokingly, ‘You’d better watch that one.’
He laughed.
‘Twenties will be fine, thank you. Has anyone told you you’ve got a lovely smile?’
It sounded cheesy but it worked.
‘Thank-you,’
she said shyly.
He watched
as she counted out his money. He could tell his gaze was making her
self-conscious, unsure of herself.
‘Thank you
so much,’ he said charmingly, taking the notes she passed him. ‘I’ll know where
to come in future.’
She threw
him a small smile and he moved away so she could serve the next customer. He
stood to one side and sorted out his money. One hundred pounds in his pocket
for Chez and the other fifty he tucked into his wallet.
Before he
left the bank he turned and caught the blonde cashier’s eye. He grinned at her
and she smiled back. His day was getting better by the minute. Next time he
came in – and there would certainly be a next time – he’d ask her for her name.
Outside, his
phone bleeped with a text message. It was from Chez. Meet in 10. Perfect
timing, Jacob thought and texted back, OK. I’ll be there. He began a
steady walk up the High Street towards the end of the town. After a couple of
minutes he felt his heartbeat quicken as the adrenalin kicked in, just as the
doctor had explained it would. Although he probably didn’t have this kind of
exercise in mind, Jacob thought to himself – most likely he’d been thinking
along the lines of using a treadmill in a gym rather than going to buy weed.
About The Darkness Within
The Darkness Within
By Lisa Stone
Published by Avon (13 July 2017)
Publisher's description
You know your son better than anyone. Don’t
you?
When critically ill Jacob Wilson is given a life-saving
heart transplant, his parents are relieved that their loving son has been
saved.
However, before long, his family are forced to accept that something
has changed in Jacob. Their once loving son is slowly being replaced by a
violent man whose mood swings leave them terrified – but is it their fault?
Jacob’s girlfriend, Rosie, is convinced the man she loves is
suffering from stress. But when his moods turn on her, she begins to doubt
herself – and she can only hide the bruises for so long.
When a terrible crime is committed, Jacob’s family are forced
to confront their darkest fears. Has the boy they raised become a monster? Or
is someone else to blame?
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